About

Like finding that indie band playing a small gig before they blow up and take over the world.-MuchMoreMusic

What's Our Deal?

Founded in 2009, Pandemic Theatre is a performing arts collective based out of T’karon:to (Toronto). We are mandated to create, develop, and produce work from critical and underrepresented perspectives that engage social and political themes.

We strive to create spaces where political discourse is not only possible, but also encouraged.

Our work is to challenge audiences, artists, and communities to engage and question the role of aesthetics in ideology. To do so ethically, critically, and in the spirit of solidarity.

Another world is possible.

What've We Done?

Since our inception in 2009, we have produced over forty workshops & productions, including sixteen world premieres. Our work has received numerous awards & honours, including: a nomination for the Governor General's Literary Award for Drama; 9 Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations (with 2 wins); a Herald Angel Award; an honourable mention for the SummerWorks Prize for Production; 2 nominations for the SummerWorks Spotlight Award for Performance (with 1 win); Best of Fringe & Patron's Pick from the Toronto Fringe; the Encore Series & Overall Excellence in Solo Performance from the New York Fringe; 3 citations as Outstanding Production from NOW Magazine in their festival wrap-up; and a SIT-UP Award commendation for Outstanding Audience Engagement.

Like a true Pandemic, the work continues to spread, touring across Canada and internationally.

Why "Pandemic"?

The name Pandemic was adopted to speak to the aim of the company to create work that is simultaneously dangerous – from the contemporary widespread bio-hazard connotations of the name – and also, in essence, work that responds to issues that effect and affect the larger common public.

“Pandemic” is derived from the Greek “pandemos” meaning all (“pan”) people (“demos”).

Where Are We From?

We would like to recognize that the land we live and work on, the land of T'karón:to (otherwise known as "Toronto" in the settler-tongue), has and continues to be the territory of the Haudenosaunee, Wendat, and Anishinaabek peoples, most recently the Mississaugas of the New Credit first nation.

Tkarón:to is Dish with One Spoon territory, meaning that it is engaged under a treaty held between these first nations binding them to protect and care for the land. It refers to the Great Lakes regions as the dish, and since we all eat out of this dish there is only one spoon, which we must share to ensure that the dish never empties. The city of Toronto and all other settlers to the region have been invited into this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship, and respect.

To all the peoples of Turtle Island, who share this spoon with us everyday: Thank you! Chi-Miigwetch!

Who Are We?

Jivesh Parasram (Artistic Producer)

An award winning multi-disciplinary artist, and a fine maker of dhal, Jivesh's work has been performed internationally including Canada, Italy, and the West Indies. In 2009, he co-founded Pandemic Theatre, where he continues to serve as Artistic Producer. In addition to his work directly in theatre and performance, Jiv works as a facilitator and community activator. He is currently completing a fellowship as part of the 2016 cohort of Cultural Leaders Lab with the Toronto Arts Council and the Banff Centre. Further professional service engagements include the Ad Hoc Assembly, the Theatre Committee for the Toronto Arts Council, and Theatre Ontario.

Jiv is also core member of the Wrecking Ball, a Co-Founder of Collective Studio & Events Space, and currently serves as the Associate Artistic Producer for Theatre Passe Muraille.

He attended the University of Toronto, obtaining the first ever combined H.B.A in Drama & International Relations, and went on to study Communications & Cultural Studies at a graduate level at both Ryerson and York Universities focussing on the aesthetics of resistance. Also, he is also an award winning public speaker and debater- and as such, despite many run-ins with law enforcement (Pandemic related and otherwise - funny story!) he's yet to be arrested.

Tom Arthur Davis (Artistic Director)

Tom Arthur Davis is a two-time cracker eating contest champion. He is also the founding Artistic Director of Pandemic Theatre, a theatre collective with a mandate for socio-political work. As an artist, Tom is interested in elevating marginalized voices through facilitating the creation of new work. Originally from the unceded territories of the Algonquin nation (Ottawa), Tom now works primarily in T'karón:to, with many of his works touring across Turtle Island and overseas.

Outside of Pandemic, Tom works with the Toronto Fringe as the director of TENT, a program designed to provide emerging theatre artists with the tools to produce their own work. He is also a core member of The Wrecking Ball, a co-founder of Collective Studio & Events Space, the former Outreach Coordinator & Emerging Producer (also for the Fringe), and an avid supporter of the Oxford Comma.

Works for the stage: Mahmoud (co-writer/director/producer), Take d Milk, Nah? (co-creator/director/producer), The Only Good Indian (co creator/performer/producer), Daughter (producer), Birth (writer/co-director/performer/producer), and Situational Anarchy (co-director/dramaturge/producer).

Who've We Worked With?

Pandemic has worked with some of the most prominent artists, companies, and festivals throughout Canada and internationally.

Residencies:Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (2016-19),Theatre Passe Muraille (2017/18), Canadian Stage (2014/15), The Drama Centre at the University of Toronto (2010).